Tonight's Orlando Magic playoff scenario is . . .

The Magic can learn their first-round playoff opponent's identity as early as Monday night

April 12, 2010|By Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Orlando Magic, who have already clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Eastern Conference playoffs, can learn who their first-round playoff opponent will be as early as tonight.

Here's tonight's scenario:

The Magic will face the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round if:

* The Bobcats lose to the New Jersey Nets tonight in New Jersey. or * The Miami Heat beat the Philadelphia 76ers tonight in Philadelphia.

Only Charlotte or Miami can receive the No. 7 seed.

There's only one way for the Magic to face the Heat in the playoffs.

Miami (45-35) would have to lose its last two regular-season games, and Charlotte (43-37) would have to win its last two regular season games.

That would leave the Heat and the Bobcats with identical 45-37 regular-season records. And Charlotte would receive the No. 6 seed in a tiebreaker because the Bobcats have compiled a 3-1 record over the Heat this season. Miami will end its regular season on Wednesday, when it hosts New Jersey.

Charlotte will end its regular season Wednesday, when it hosts Chicago.